Winter season off to fast start

The new winter sports season has already produced plenty of triumph and excitement for local teams. Here's a glimpse at what's happened in the early going:

Boys' basketball

The Brunswick boys' basketball team won two of its first three outings, sandwiching victories over Cony (58-39) and Edward Little (54-48) around a 59-53 setback at Lawrence. The Dragons were at Oxford Hills Tuesday and hosted Mt. Ararat Thursday. They close the 2011 portion of their schedule next week with games at defending Class A state champion Bangor Tuesday and Lewiston Friday.

Morse rolled in its opener, 68-29, over visiting Oak Hill. The Shipbuilders fell to 1-1 after a 58-35 setback at Maranacook. Morse hosted Gardiner Tuesday and played at Leavitt Thursday. The Shipbuilders host Belfast Wednesday of next week and go to Waterville Dec. 30.

Mt. Ararat dropped its first three games, 64-39 at home to Edward Little, 53-50 at Oxford Hills and 56-45 at home to Erskine. The Eagles went to Skowhegan Tuesday and Brunswick Thursday and host Cony Dec. 30.

Hyde opened with wins at A.R. Gould (55-27) and Seacoast Christian (59-27). The Phoenix is idle until playing at North Yarmouth Academy Jan. 4.

Girls' basketball

On the girls' side, Mt. Ararat won at Edward Little (52-41) and after a 42-39 home loss to Oxford Hills, improved to 2-1 with a 46-23 triumph at Erskine. The Eagles were home with Skowhegan Tuesday and Brunswick Thursday and play at Cony on Dec. 30.

Brunswick lost at Cony in its first game, 53-41. The Dragons bounced back with a 50-28 home triumph over Lawrence, then lost at Edward Little, 50-22. Brunswick hosted Oxford Hills Tuesday and played at Mt. Ararat Thursday. The Dragons host Bangor Tuesday and Lewiston Friday of next week.

Morse won its opener at Oak Hill, 54-34, then fell at home to Maranacook in a heartbreaker, 43-42. The Shipbuilders were at Gardiner Tuesday and hosted Leavitt Thursday. They play at Belfast next Wednesday and visit Waterville Dec. 30.

Hyde started 0-2 with losses at Kents Hill (37-25) and Seacoast Christian (40-24). The Phoenix plays its home opener Jan. 4 versus NYA.

Hockey

Brunswick's girls' hockey team is off to a sizzling 5-1-1 start and leads the East Region Heal Points standings. The Dragons beat visiting Lewiston (2-1) and Cape Elizabeth (9-1) in last week's action. Brunswick was at Edward Little Wednesday and hosts St. Dom's Thursday of next week.

On the boys' side, Brunswick dropped its first two games, 6-1 at Bangor and 6-3 at home to Maranacook. Monday night, the Dragons played visiting Edward Little to a 3-3 tie. They go to Waterville Monday and host Mt. Ararat Thursday.

The Eagles beat Westbrook in the opener, 2-1, then lost at Camden Hills (5-2) and Edward Little (3-1). Mt. Ararat was at Gray-New Gloucester Wednesday and plays at Brunswick next Thursday.

Indoor track

The first Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference indoor track league meet is Thursday at Farley Field House.

Swimming

Brunswick's swimmers split a season opening meet versus Belfast. The men prevailed by a point, 51-50, while the girls went down to a 55-42 defeat.

Mt. Ararat's boys beat Camden Hills, 86-65. The girls lost to the Windjammers, 85-72.

Morse's boys have won their first two meets, 112-58 over Messalonskee and 117-51 over Cony. The girls lost to the Eagles, 103-67, but defeated the Rams, 99-71.

Skiing

The Alpine and Nordic ski season begins after the new year. Everyone involved with the sport is hoping for some snow before then.

Wrestling

Morse's wrestlers took place in the Tiger Tournament Saturday and was sixth out of nine scoring teams.

Mt. Ararat competed in the McDonald's Tournament and was seventh of 16 teams. Brunswick placed 11th.

Next up for local teams is the Cony Duals Tuesday.